What is so bad about Mears?

[JKanownik]

Just out of curiosity, why does eveyone dislike Mears transportation so much? We use it everytime we go to WDW and we have never had a problem with them. We have always been able to get to our hotel within an hour of arriving at the airport. I guess since it is always just the 2 of us, Mears is a much more affordable option than Tiffany Town Car, but we have always had promt, courteous and friendly service. Do any of you care to share some of your stories or reasons why you think it is so horrible? Thanks.

 

[Lewisc]

Many posters are familes of 3 and 4, Mears doesn't save much $.

Some people use a grocery stop.

Some people get scared based on a few scare stories and think it'll take hours to get to their resort. There is a wait to fill up a van and there may be a few stops but I think the delays are exaggerated.

 

[5wdwnutz]

We have used Mears in the past and only recently used Tiffany because we were a group of 7. The only negative experience we had with Mears was waiting almost an hour and a half to get on the bus. After finally getting on everything was fine.

 

[goodferry]

No negatives, just traveling with a party of six and wanting to stop for groceries. It is cheaper for us to take a van.

 

[helenk]

I use a town car service because I like the convenience and I like getting to my resort right away.
The driver meets your at the baggage claim, gets your luggage takes you out to the car and you are off to your resort. It generally takes about a 1/2 of an hour. When you take Mears you have to go to their window, wait for the bus and then the bus goes to other resorts, it always took me more than an hour from the time I got my luggage to the time I arrived at my resort.

 

[GaryWT]

I used Mears on my one trip and things were fine. The company serves a purpose and does get the job done. There can be delays leaving the airport but if you hit it right they seem to get you to the world in good time. There are 5 of us so we are trying Tiffany this trip.

 

[mugglemom]

Nothing personal against Mears but I used the LYNX public buses and arrived in the same places in very close to the same times for a fraction of the cost!

 

[CarolA]

I just DON'T want to go to any other hotels, DON'T want to be squashed with people I don't know. The last time I took Mears there was a very overweight man on the van. The Mears people were very rude and kept yelling for us to squish because THAT SEAT HOLD FOUR! Not, with this person it didn't. My friend and I refused to sit in this man's lap so we could fit person four on our row and the man loading the van was just RUDE! Never again.

 

[wld]

Our Mears experiences were similar to the above with lots of people squished into a very hot van while we waited for everyone to load. And we were always the last dropped off. For our family of 4 towncars are so much nicer. In fact we like them so much we pay extra when it is just the 2 of us.

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by CarolA
The Mears people were very rude and kept yelling for us to squish because THAT SEAT HOLD FOUR! Not, with this person it didn't. My friend and I refused to sit in this man's lap so we could fit person four on our row and the man loading the van was just RUDE!

Does the driver want a tip or doesn't he?

Do they want to comp the ride or don't they?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

In my opinion, since we are all paying a pretty good amount for a wonderful Disney experience why in the world would anyone want to try to squeeze a few dollars by using Mears?
The towncar driver is waiting for YOU....not one thousand other people. He or she helps you with your luggage. They take you in a clean, comfortable car directly to your hotel (or a grocery stop first if you want).
Why wait in line after line at the Mears counter being pushed and shoved. Why crowd into an uncomfortable van or bus with other people. Why put up with all the stops at other hotels, as well as the noise factor on the van or bus?
For the relatively little difference in cost (no difference or cheaper than Mears if you have 3-4 people) a towncar is the only way to start a wonderful vacation at Walt Disney World.

 

[nhrenee]

Mears was fine when I was by myself with only a carry-on bag.

 

[prncess674]

I used Mears before and it isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. My last trip there were only 3 people in the entire van. This was on Memorial Day weekend which in general is a very busy time in Orlando. My driver was efficient and got me to my hotel in good time. Yes we stopped at another resort but it wasn't THAT bad. They do group resorts so it isn't like you will have to stop at Universal Studios before heading to the Polynesian. They try to group people who are at close resorts. I was travelling alone so saving $$$$ using Mears was worth it for the extra 1/2 hour it cost me.

 

[paladin]

I have taken Mears quite a few times and don't have a problem - yes, there is wait and yes, we stop at different resorts, but I just plan on the time for that. Plus, since I usually travel by myself, it is much less expensive for one.

 

[paladin]

Ooops - double posted (and I can't delete it). Sorry about that!

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

We used them a few times before we started having problems. The last 2 times made us realize it just doesn't pay to save alittle money. First problem,we waited just over an hour for our van, and we were not waiting the longest. There was a couple still there when we left that was there when we got there. Second time it us under an hour, but only by a couple of minutes. That was enough for us. Limo service from MCO is only $80 and to us it is worth it.

 

[Tess]

We used Mears on our first visit to WDW because the transfers were part of the package we purchased--and no we've never purchased a package since either!

After arriving at MCO, we were directed and misdirected to Mears. When we finally found a Mears rep we were sent to yet another location to stand on line to wait to exchange our vouchers. Meanwhile, those waiting for transport grew greater in number. We waited (with two small kids) for well over an hour before they managed to get us into a van. First they forgot about us and when we reminded them we were still waiting, they acted as if it was our fault--Hello, we're sitting right in front of you!

Into the van we climb--all 4 of us in a seat and comfortable. The van wasn't full and so we waited yet again for others to board. The van was hot and we were told to stay in it because the other guests would be along directly. The remaining passengers arrived, loaded in, and proceeded to yak yak yak about the most inane topics and rudely as well. It was as if there were no other folks in the car, just the two of them.

We stopped at several of the DD (formerly the Village) hotels before heading to our stop (the last).

Our misery didn't end there, when it came time to catch our return transport it was a huge motorcoach and we made so many stops before the airport that I lost count. We really couldn't figure out why we needed to leave our resort at 1:00 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. flight, but Mears assured us it was necessary. We must have spent over an hour just visiting various resorts outside Disney property--Grand Cypress (I believe it's called) area.

When we arrived at the airport we had well over two hours to kill--this was early 90s and the security wasn't even an issue then! Not a lot to do with two small kids at the airport for that much time anyway.

That's why we never used Mears again. Of course, with 4, it's much more expensive to use Mears anyway--why would I spend that kind of money for cattle call service. Makes no sense to me either.

 

[crisi]

I only used them once and it was years ago. But I remember that we stopped at a LOT of hotels before we reached ours - which was the final stop. The van we were in was crowded and not all the guests were considerate of sharing a van. Since at that time, we hit the park as soon as we dropped off our bags, Mears cost us over an hour of park time.

And we had the return trip problem as well. Too much time in the van, too much time at the airport.

Mears works great if you are two people and have time to spend. And if you hit it right (a van leaving now and your stop is first or second) - time isn't even as issue.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Mears has worked pretty well for us, but we are the exception here. Our DS is wheelchair-bound, so we arange for a Mears wheelchair van to get us, and we always have it all to ourselves, which is great. The one hiccup we have had was arriving late at night and not knowing where to go, and then another time when all the Mears wheelchair vans were in use (apparently and we had to wiat 45 mins for them to contract with a wheelchair accessible taxi, which ended up being a tight squeeze, but a great driver made up for it.

So there you go, we end up getting towncar style service thru Mears, because our our special transport needs. They still try to pick us up waaaaay too early from the resort tho. No way in heck I want to spend 3 hrs at MCO.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> we needed to leave our resort at 1:00 p.m. for a 7:00 p.m. flight,

Was it a really slack time of year? I can understand it if they really have only one shuttle every three hours on certain non-busy days. Also it is not bad to aim for two hours befor flight time, sometime you get there earlier, hopefully not much later than that.

Sorry but I never apologize for accidental double posts. Inability to delete is a system/host problem not a user/guest problem.